Discussion
stayed in a very cheapo B&B nr the Piazza San Marco, which was fine as we spent all day every day outside doing 'stuff'. We literally just slept there.
It's a great place for strolling around doing nothing in particular, just exploring. Really enjoyed the Basilica, the Doge's Palace and Piazza San Marco. Didn't go on a gondola, but took water taxis around the place which was incredibly simple. Academia is a very nice area, too. Eating out is not necessarily expensive - head for slightly less touristy areas and you'll save a few quid. Long lazy lunches are the order of the day. We got pissed at lunchtimes and had a few sozzled afternoons in museums etc. The Guggenheim was OK - not really my bag, but my GF liked it.
Cafe Florian is a nice place to have a few drinks in the evening. It's on one side of St Marks Sq, and you can listen to music while drinking away. they charge you for the pleasure though - IIRC it is quite expensive, but it's one of those things that you just 'have' to do - like Harry's Bar.
It's a great place for strolling around doing nothing in particular, just exploring. Really enjoyed the Basilica, the Doge's Palace and Piazza San Marco. Didn't go on a gondola, but took water taxis around the place which was incredibly simple. Academia is a very nice area, too. Eating out is not necessarily expensive - head for slightly less touristy areas and you'll save a few quid. Long lazy lunches are the order of the day. We got pissed at lunchtimes and had a few sozzled afternoons in museums etc. The Guggenheim was OK - not really my bag, but my GF liked it.
Cafe Florian is a nice place to have a few drinks in the evening. It's on one side of St Marks Sq, and you can listen to music while drinking away. they charge you for the pleasure though - IIRC it is quite expensive, but it's one of those things that you just 'have' to do - like Harry's Bar.
chim_knee said:
Hi,
A colleague is off to Venice in September and she was wondering whether any of you have any advice with regards of where to stay (and where not to stay!), what to see, what to avoid and any general advice.
Thanks in advance,
Phil.
Venice is kinda over-rated. Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful place but whatever you do - don't spend more than a couple of days there. Unless you are visiting places eg museums and galleries you can tire of Venice extremely quickly.
The hotels are wonderfully expensive, however the cheap way round is to get a hotel at Mestre and take the train in each day. (1 stop and it was 1Euro each way last time we went).
The other problem is that there is precious little parking on the island itself and even in October when we went there was aboslutely no where to park, so if you get a hotel you may get stuck with parking out at Mestre in the first place.
There is zero night life in Venice and we were warned by a very bored couple on their honeymoon that most bars shut at 930pm. That was in October, so they may stay open longer during the summer.
Whatever you do - don't go on the Canal Bus or whatever its called. It is dreadfully slow and dull. Get a water taxi - far more fun and you can sit at the back of them trying to look regal.
'Doges Palace' is worth a gander round.
You can have a Walkman type tour but be quick. My battery ran out with 2 rooms to go so I was left to invent my own theory on what the rooms were used for.
Can get smelly near the waters edge.
See my profile for a picture of the hotel (Hotel Principe) I stayed in. It was very nice but very expensive. (Honeymoon, you see.)
>> Edited by lazyitus on Monday 25th July 13:02
You can have a Walkman type tour but be quick. My battery ran out with 2 rooms to go so I was left to invent my own theory on what the rooms were used for.
Can get smelly near the waters edge.
See my profile for a picture of the hotel (Hotel Principe) I stayed in. It was very nice but very expensive. (Honeymoon, you see.)
>> Edited by lazyitus on Monday 25th July 13:02
We went last summer for 4 days. We stayed at Locanda Novo have a look on www.tripadvisor.com I have written a review. Relatively cheap and a good find. Gondolas are expensive but worth it just to say that you did it. The price goes up after 7pm so get one just before then and you get the better rate plus a nice cool sun going down type ride. Don't get them from St Marks Sq try further up the canal for a better deal/route. Water Taxis are scandalously expensive but the water buses are a good way to get around.
Go out to the lido as it is nice and quiet/relaxed and you may also get a good hotel deal here. It's only about 10 mins on the ferry.
Go up the campanile (clock tower type thing) on st marks sq for some great views. Best thing is to get lost and just wander around.
We split out holiday with Lake Garda, there is a direct bus from Venice bus station. Verona is not far away and worth a visit. We also did florence but the journey is a bit of a slog.
In all a very nice place but very expensive.
Go out to the lido as it is nice and quiet/relaxed and you may also get a good hotel deal here. It's only about 10 mins on the ferry.
Go up the campanile (clock tower type thing) on st marks sq for some great views. Best thing is to get lost and just wander around.
We split out holiday with Lake Garda, there is a direct bus from Venice bus station. Verona is not far away and worth a visit. We also did florence but the journey is a bit of a slog.
In all a very nice place but very expensive.
tinman0 said:
Hi,
A colleague is off to Venice in September and she was wondering whether any of you have any advice with regards of where to stay (and where not to stay!), what to see, what to avoid and any general advice.
Thanks in advance,
Phil.
Venice is kinda over-rated. Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful place but whatever you do - don't spend more than a couple of days there. Unless you are visiting places eg museums and galleries you can tire of Venice extremely quickly.
The hotels are wonderfully expensive, however the cheap way round is to get a hotel at Mestre and take the train in each day. (1 stop and it was 1Euro each way last time we went).
The other problem is that there is precious little parking on the island itself and even in October when we went there was aboslutely no where to park, so if you get a hotel you may get stuck with parking out at Mestre in the first place.
There is zero night life in Venice and we were warned by a very bored couple on their honeymoon that most bars shut at 930pm. That was in October, so they may stay open longer during the summer.
Whatever you do - don't go on the Canal Bus or whatever its called. It is dreadfully slow and dull. Get a water taxi - far more fun and you can sit at the back of them trying to look regal.
So theres precious little parking on the Island itself eh?
Just wondering how you would have got the car there in the first place????? Maybe via the Venetian motorway? Oh and be careful, the cars dont stop for the traffic lights either!
Venice is fantastic.
My strategy is slightly different. Stay 15km away in Mira. Mira is tiny, but has half a dozen nice hotels. Price will be in excess of GBP100 per night. The advantage is that you get a far better deal than in Venice itself, but more importantly, you have access to Michelin starred restaurants for the same price as a pizza in St.Mark's Square. Take a bus into Venice each day for peanuts. A gondola trip sounds like a cliche until you're in one, then it's fantastic. Wait till there is a lull in trade then haggle the price down. Spend the money you've saved on ONE dinner at an expensive waterside hotel- Ciipriani whatever.
My strategy is slightly different. Stay 15km away in Mira. Mira is tiny, but has half a dozen nice hotels. Price will be in excess of GBP100 per night. The advantage is that you get a far better deal than in Venice itself, but more importantly, you have access to Michelin starred restaurants for the same price as a pizza in St.Mark's Square. Take a bus into Venice each day for peanuts. A gondola trip sounds like a cliche until you're in one, then it's fantastic. Wait till there is a lull in trade then haggle the price down. Spend the money you've saved on ONE dinner at an expensive waterside hotel- Ciipriani whatever.
i recommend that if you do go, take your own punt. i couldn't find one for love nor money after 11pm. at least, not one id want to place faith in the quality of their rollocks anyway. in fact, their hole operation was a bit fishy.
>> Edited by kamikaze pilot on Monday 25th July 21:33
>> Edited by kamikaze pilot on Monday 25th July 21:33
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